The Blind President and a Political Drama in Argentina's Interwar Politics: The Case of Roberto M. Ortiz and His Attempt at Democratic Redemption

Abstract

President Roberto Ortiz’s public life history mostly exemplifies the peculiarities of an Argentine interwar political trajectory. This article nuances that interpretation through evaluating unknown sources and recently discovered contemporary documents. He epitomizes the tangled political liberalism in interwar Argentina: formed in liberalism, he was increasingly influenced by statism and nationalism, which are prominent in his speeches. His path was ascending and expressed the peculiar transition between Radical era democratization and the so-called infamous decade. He might also be considered a transitional figure in Argentina’s mass politics, between the Radical republic and the emergence of Peronism. Although elected by fraudulent mechanisms, in office he moved to a democratic and inclusive program with clean elections. Paradoxically, as his administration was settled, Ortiz was shocked by a health crisis. The sick President became a crucial figure for democratic and pro-ally sectors in early-1940s Argentina. His health issues also limited his democratization mission.